Combination key holder and flashlight



6, 1955 B. B. FORE COMBINATION KEY HOLDER AND FLASHLIGHT Filed Sept. 23. 1952 v z E INVENTOR BERNARD B. FORE A TTYZS.

United States Patent Ofitice 2,715,676 iatented Aug. 16, 1955 This invention relates generally to an improved combination key holder and flashlight; the arrangement being such that keys on a retainer or ring are disposed in such relationship to the flashlight that the latter illuminates the keyhole of the lock when a key is being used at night.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a combination key holder and flashlight which includes a swingable key retainer; the flashlight being automatically energized upon swinging of said key retainer from one position to another position.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a combination key holder and flashlight, as in the preceding paragraph, wherein the swingable key retainer includes spaced-apart longitudinal legs normally snapengaged in said one position with the body of the flashlight, but being swingable to another position snap-engaged with such body; the legs in such other position completing the circuit for the flashlight globe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination key holder and flashlight which is compact for ease of carrying, and readily manipulated for use.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a combination key holder and flashlight which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable combination key holder and flashlight, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a sectional elevation of the combination key holder and flashlight, with the parts in normal or carrying position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device showing the swingable key retainer as swung to a position for key use, and at which time the flashlight is automatically placed in operation.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the combination key holder and flashlight comprises a flashlight unit, indicated generally at 1, which includes a tubular metallic body 2 closed at its rear end, as at 3, and fitted at its outer or front end with a screw-in type globe retainer plug 4; such plug being hollow for the reception of a flashlight globe 5, and having a central opening 6 through which the forward portion of the globe projects.

The threaded neck 7 of the flashlight globe 5 is threaded centrally through a metallic disc 8 having a rear-turned, annular spring flange 9 which seats in the body 2 in order to support the globe in position, and at the same time to make electrical contact between the threaded neck 7 and the body 2.

Rearwardly of the disc 8 the center contact 10 of globe 5 bears against the adjacent center contact 11 of a penlight type flashlight battery 12 which extends lengthwise in said tubular body 2 to said closed end 3.

The battery 12 is supported in insulated relation from the body 2 by means of a dielectric sleeve 13 which surrounds the battery, and a dielectric end cap 14 which fits on the rear end of said battery.

An annular space 15 exists between the adjacent ends of the sleeve 13 and cap 14 for the purpose hereinafter described.

The numeral 16 indicates a key retainer or half key ring which normally projects forwardly from the front end of the device to carry keys, one being indicated at 17.

Said ring at its ends is formed with S or book portions 18, which merge in integral relation with opposed legs 19, which extend lengthwise of the body toward the rear end thereof. These legs tend to spring inwardly, snap-engaging in corresponding longitudinal grooves 20 which are formed in opposite sides of the body 2 from the front end thereof to a point adjacent but short of its rear end.

The S or hook portions 18 form stops for the purpose of preventing the keys from sliding from the retainer 16 onto the legs 19.

At their rear ends the spring legs 19 are formed with inturned contact pivot pins 21 which slidably and turnably project inwardly through opposed holes 22 in the body 2, such holes opening into the space 15. When the spring legs 19 are snap-engaged in the longitudinal grooves 20, the inner ends of the contact pins 21 are clear of the battery 12.

From the rear end of each longitudinal groove 20 i. e. from each of the holes 22-the body 2 is formed with relatively short forwardly extending, deeper diagonal grooves 23 which run in opposite directions from said hole, in symmetrical relation to the adjacent groove 20 and to the longitudinal axis of the body.

Normally the spring legs 19 lie in the grooves 20, with the keys turned back against the body 2.

When it is desired to use a key, the key is swung forward and the key retainer 16 and the legs 19 are swung laterally to right or left relative to the grooves 28; such legs escaping the grooves 20 and snap-engaging in corresponding ones of the diagonal grooves 23. Since the diagonal grooves 23 are considerably deeper than the grooves 20, the contact pivots 21 then move inwardly and contact opposite sides of the battery 12, as at 24.

When this occurs the battery circuit for the globe 5 is completed through the body 2, flange 9, and disc 8. The result is automatic energization of the globe 5 to illuminate the lock when the key retainer 16 is swung laterally to right or left for the purpose of use of a key on said retainer.

Thus, by the simple expedient of a lateral manipulation of the key retainer 16-for ease of use of the keythere results the illumination of the lock in which the key is to be used.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A combination key holder and flashlight comprising a tubular metallic body, a globe at one end of the body disposed axially thereof and having a base in V 'minating short of contact with the battery, and means formed on the body and, cooperating with the legs to 'cause the pins, when the legs are disengaged from the 3 1 contact with the body and a base terminal insulated from said base, a battery in the body in center contact at one end with the globe terminal, the battery including a metal case insulated from the body, a key retainer normally disposed beyond said one end of the body, resilient legs integral with the'retainer projecting lengthwise of the body on opposite sides thereof toward the end of 'the body furthest from the globe, and inturned contact pivot pins on the end of the legs furthest from the retainer; the body having opposed holes exposed 1'} to the battery through which the pins turnably project and said body having grooves extending lengthwiseof the body from said holes to the globe end of the body and in which the legs snap-engage, the pins then tergrooves and swung about the pins through a predetermined arc, to move into contact with the battery case to close the flashlight circuit. 2o

2. A device as in claim 1, in which said means comprises another relatively short but deep groove in r References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,114,266 Bodor Apr. 12,1938 2,245,715 Rieck June 17, 1941 2,485,483 Cunningham Oct. 18, 1949 2,533,518 Scott Dec. 12, 1950 1 FOREIGN PATENTS 479,417 Great Britain Feb. 4, 

